Month: June 2016

Being a long-haul trucker is certainly a lucrative career, but it’s not necessarily the most exciting on long stretches of country roads. Unfortunately, the lack of simulation on the road often leads to drowsiness, which is one of the leading causes of trucking accidents each year. You’ll learn how to drive a truck by enrolling in CDL school, but you can learn how to keep yourself entertained once you get behind the wheel by reading this article.  

Listen to Something

There are so many ways for drivers to keep themselves entertained these days. Podcasts, audiobooks, and satellite radio open up a world of stories and opinions that can keep you engaged, alert, and entertained. The same can be said for streaming music services that let you listen to all of your favorite songs without having to lug binders of CDs in the truck or play with the radio dial trying to find something decent to listen to.

Practice Mindfulness

Truck drivers spend a lot of time alone on the road, so one good way to actively pass the time is to do some thinking. We don’t mean “space out” or daydream by any stretch, but while you are driving, keep your mind engaged on the road and think about some of the questions or problems you’ve had lately. You’ll be surprised with the kinds of answers and solutions you can come up with when you have hours to think by yourself.  

Bring a Partner

Lots of truck drivers bring partners along for the ride to keep them company. Some couples even tandem drive, which means one partner drives the truck while the other one rests and then they switch off. This means more miles in half the time, and, if you are driving with your husband or wife, it can be as good as a vacation—a vacation that pays great money.
If you want to become a professional truck driver, the first thing to do is get your commercial driver’s license. Yuma Truck Driving School offers eight-week professional truck driver programs that will prepare you to obtain your CDL and start your driving career. Call us toll-free at (888) 647-3239 to learn more about our flexible and affordable truck driving classes.

Have you recently made the decision to pursue a career as a professional truck driver? Before you decide which type of driver you want to be, you will want to enroll in truck driving school when you’ve made the decision to drive for a living. In the time it will take you to earn your CDL, you can mull over your options and choose the best path for you and your family. To help you get started thinking about this important decision in your driving career, here are some things to consider when choosing between short and long haul trucking after you graduate from truck driving school.

Time Away from Home

Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to your decision is how long you intend to be away from home on the road. Short-haul truck drivers are usually home every night, since they typically just run routes around town or back and forth from nearby cities. Long-haul truckers, on the other hand, can be away from home for days or even weeks at a time, though they tend to have longer breaks between trips.

Differences in Pay

Long-haul truck drivers are away from home for longer periods of time and often clock more miles each day than short-haul truckers, and the difference in pay reflects this. Data from the BLS shows that tractor-trailer drivers made an average of $40,260 per year in 2015 while delivery truck drivers (a category most short-haul drivers are most typically included in) made an average of $27,760 per year. The difference in pay is often enough to persuade drivers to earn their Class-A CDL and become long-haul drivers.

Long-Term Career Plans

Many drivers hit the road with plans to become owner-operators someday, and while both short-haul and long-haul trucking can pave the way to this lofty goal, long-haul trucking better prepares drivers for the demands of running a successful independent trucking business. If your plan is to be your own boss someday and you want to “learn the ropes” when it comes to lucrative long-distance logistics, being a long-haul driver might be a good fit.

Yuma Truck Driving School can provide you with all the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in any type of professional driving position, including short- and long-haul driving. Call us toll-free at (888) 647-3239 to learn more about our truck driving programs in Southern Arizona.